Summer Art Escape (Ages 5-11)  | Summer Art Lab (Ages 12-14)

2026 Summer Registration

Early Registration

Early registration for participants receiving financial assistance begins Saturday, January 31 at 10 a.m. and ends Friday, February 6 at 6 p.m. Registration can be completed in person, by phone, or online with pre-qualification.

If you plan to register during the early registration period, we recommend you submit your application prior to the start of early registration on January 31. Visit austintexas.gov/financialaid to apply or for more information.

General Registration

Registration for Summer Camps at Cultural Centers, which includes Dougherty Arts Center, will open on Saturday. February 28 at 10 a.m. for City of Austin Residents (12 p.m. for non-residents).

For information on other City of Austin summer camps, visit austintexas.gov/summercamp.

Summer Art Escape 2026

Overview

Unleash your child’s creativity this summer at Summer Art Escape — the ultimate art camp where imagination knows no bounds! Designed for young artists ages 5-11, this camp offers a fun and inspiring environment where campers will explore a variety of art forms including ceramics, performing arts, and visual arts. Instructors will guide students through hands-on projects, encouraging them to experiment and develop their unique artistic voices.

Summer Art Escape meets daily Monday through Friday during each week-long session, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. Students may be dropped off no earlier than 8:45 a.m. Pick up is at 5 p.m. Student breaks during the day include active outdoor play, weather and heat index permitting. Students should bring two (2) healthy snacks (AM, PM), a lunch that does not require refrigeration or heating, a water bottle, closed-toe shoes, and art/movement appropriate clothing. Students will be grouped by age.

Program Information

For Ages: 5 to 11 years old

Dates: Weekly from June 8 through August 7, see session dates below.

Times: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fees:

• $140 per week for City of Austin Residents
• $220 per week for non-residents

Pre-registration is required. Program space is limited.

Registration Limit

As a Specialty Camp, Summer Art Escape has a three (3) week maximum registration limit per participant. 
For more information: Registration Limits for Specialty Camps.

Session Dates

Summer Art Lab 2026

Overview

Designed for ages 12-14, Summer Art Lab offers the perfect blend of creativity, personal growth, and exploration of the arts. Instructors will guide students through hands-on projects, such as ceramics, digital art, and textiles.

Summer Art Lab meets daily Monday through Friday during each week-long session. Morning sessions start at 9 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. Afternoon sessions start at 1 p.m. and end at 5 p.m. Students may be dropped off no more than 15 minutes prior to the start of camp. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle and one (1) healthy snack. Closed-toe shoes, and art/movement appropriate clothing are required.

Program Information

For Ages: 12 to 14 years old

Dates: See session dates below.

Times: Monday through Friday

• Morning (AM) sessions: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Afternoon (PM) sessions: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Fees:

• $100 per week for City of Austin Residents
• $140 per week for non-residents

Pre-registration is required. Program space is limited.

There is no registration limit for Summer Art Lab sessions.

Session Dates

Registration

Registration Portal

• Account Creation, Online Registration, & FAQ
• Have Further Questions? Need Additional Assistance?
  • DACSchool@austintexas.gov
  • 512-974-4040

Deposits

• A non-refundable deposit of $20 per participant per session will reserve the spot at the time of registration.
• Any remaining balance is due by 5 p.m. 21 days prior to the start of the enrolled session.
• If not received by that date/time, the spot and deposit will be forfeited.

Waitlist

• Participants that register after the program has filled can be added to the waitlist.
• No fee is required to be added to waitlist.
• Waitlist participants will be notified if spots become available.

Program fees are only refunded in full if the class is canceled by the Dougherty Arts Center.

Program Forms & Documents

• Youth Friend Request Form (English PDF, 98kb / Español PDF, 109kb) - For students who wish to be placed in the same camp or class together; only one request per student is permitted, subject to approval by program administration.

Financial Aid

Accessibility Services

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance please contact  512-974-3917 or Relay Texas 7-1-1.

Language Services

For more information or to request a language interpreter, please call Austin 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000. Requests for interpretation services should be made at least five days prior to the meeting or event you plan to attend.